Sometimes government appears to move maddeningly slow. Right now, though, the machinery of Virginiaâs new redistricting process is whirring right along at an exceptionally brisk pace.
On Nov. 3, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment that takes the power of drawing new district lines out of the hands of the majority party in the General Assembly â right now Democrats â and gives it to a special commission.
This commission is, by design, evenly split between legislators and non-legislators and then evenly split again between Democrats and Republicans and split yet one more time between the House of Delegates and state Senate. In December, party leaders in each chamber appointed their eight members â two from each party in each chamber.
Sometimes government appears to move maddeningly slow. Right now, though, the machinery of Virginia’s new redistricting process is whirring right along at an exceptionally brisk pace.
The recommendation to Virginia s legislature would remove laws passed in the "tough on crime" era of the 1980s and 90s. The panel found mandatory minimums disproportionately affect Black people and
Consider this a stocking stuffer, although some might consider these lumps of coal:
1. Is Terry McAuliffe really a champion for ending school disparities? The former governor launched his comeback bid by declaring heâs in favor of âthe biggest, boldest investment in education in Virginia historyâ and that he wants to âensure that every Virginia student has access to an equitable, world-class education.â All fine words, ones that should certainly get the attention of those of us in rural Virginia who have generally found ourselves on the short end of the vast disparities in school funding.
Now for the inconvenient reality. McAuliffe proposes to âdramatically and immediately increase teacher pay.â Republicans were quick to point out that during McAuliffeâs previous four years, he only proposed an increase in teacher pay once â and that in each of those four years the Republican-controlled General Assembly appropriated more money for educat
Citizen applicants for Virginia redistricting commission skew white, male, over age 50 dailyprogress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyprogress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.